Notice: This Julius Caesar vocabulary word list is for personal use only.
The study of the word list will improve reading comprehension. Any commercial use of the vocabulary word lists at MyVocabulary.com is expressly prohibited unless requested and permission granted.
Email jancook@myvocabulary.com or use the Contact Us in the footer below.
A vocabulary word list for Julius Caesar appears alphabetically:
Commonly used vocabulary words found in Shakespeare\’s works: an: if (sometimes) – ay: yes – coz: cousin – doth: does thee: you – thine: you – thou art: you are – thou wert: you were – \’tis: it is
- Vocabulary words alphabetical from A – to – G (41 words)
affections swayed: passions ruled
ambition: for the Elizabethans, the word had the special meaning of unscrupulous pursuit of power
apparent prodigies: wonders that have appeared
augurers: priests who interpreted omens
bear hard: bear a grudge against
betimes: at once
bird of night: the owl
bootless: useless
break with: break our news to, discuss
but soft: slowly
carrion men: decaying corpses
carrions: living carcasses
chafing with: beating on
charactery: what is written upon, i.e., the meaning
chopt: chapped
cobbler: this means bungler as well as shoemaker
Colossus: the huge statue of Apollo at the harbor of Rhodes. It was erroneously thought that its legs spanned the harbor entrance
colour: excuse
common proof: common experiences
concave shores: overhanging banks
condition: constitution, state of mind
coronets: small crown, or perhaps a laurel wreath
crossed: opposed
dropping fire: thunderbolts
erns: grieves
extremities: extremes of power
factious: active
falling sickness: epilepsy
Falls purpose: is close to the truth
fashion: shape to our purpose
fat: amiable satisfied
Fates: in classical mythology, the three goddesses who directed human destinies
favour: feature
figures: fantasies
fleering: the Elizabethan meaning combined our \”fawning\” and \”sneering.\”
formal constancy: steadfast self-possession
from the main: not strong
gamesome: sportive
gentle: noble, or well-born; mild or amiable
get the start: a head start; the metaphor from the running of a race is carried on the victor\’s \”palm\” in the next line
glazed: a combination of glared and gazed
- An alphabetical word list for Julius Caesar from H – to – Z (43 words)
hart: deer, with a pun on heart
hearts of controversy: in rivalry
hie: hurry
high-sighted: ambitious
hinds: deer
humour: feeling (of fear); to persuade by flatter; or a mood, temperament, or mist
ides: the 15th day of the month
ingafted: deep-rooted
intermit: hold off
jealous: in sensed suspicious
lethe: in classical mythology, Lethe was a river in Hades, the waters of which induced forgetfulness. Here the association is with death generally
marry: an oath, by (the Virgin) Mary! Bit in effect no stronger than \”indeed.\”
meet: proper
moe: more
naughty: insolent, wicked. A stronger tern for the Elizabethans than for us
nothink jealous: have no doubt. ordinary: a tavern
out: angry
palter: quibble or deceive
praetor: magistrate
prick: spur
prodigies: unnatural events
proof of constancy: test of endurance
proper: belonging
put on: incite
quick mettle: mentally sharp
rated: upbraided
rheumy: moist
rive: split open
several bastardly: not true Roman blood
sick offence: harmful illness
Soft you!: i.e., Hold on; wait
sounded: proclaimed
stand close: stand back, conceal yourself
swounded: fainted
taper: candle
thunder-stone: thunderbolt, lightning
unbraced: with doublet untied, open
ungently: discourteously
the vulgar: the common people
wafter: wave
watchful cares: cares that keep one awake
whe\’r: frequent in Shakespeare for weather
your mind hold: if you don\’t change your mind; if you are still sane
Links to vocabulary words lists and puzzles for other Shakespeare plays:
Links to vocabulary words lists and puzzles for other Shakespeare plays:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Antony and Cleopatra
As You Like It
Julius Caesar
Hamlet
King Lear
Macbeth
Much Ado About Nothing
Othello
Romeo and Juliet
The Merchant of Venice
The Taming of the Shrew
The Winter’s Tale
Twelfth Night
Julius Caesar – you are here
Thank you, Cheryl Ann Worth of Lumberton High School, Lumberton, Texas, for being the teacher contributor at www.myVocabulary.com for a vocabulary word list with meanings for Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare.
